Astros summary: Injuries help Bixler get start at second

Brian Bixler woke up in Houston on opening day as a member of the Oklahoma City RedHawks. The Astros had Bixler in town as insurance for starting shortstop Jed Lowrie, who had a sprained right thumb.

Bixler, 29, began a season on a major league roster for the first time of his career when the Astros put Lowrie on the disabled list. One game later, Bixler was getting the start at second base in a 7-3 victory against the Rockies.

"It's definitely different," said Bixler, who went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. "You always feel like you've experienced it all, but baseball seems to bring something new. That's part of the game."

A former second-round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bixler spent the bulk of his minor league career at shortstop. He has had to be a jack of all trades in the majors, having played every position but pitcher and catcher.

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From the field

In a nutshell: Jason Castro and Marwin Gonzalez, who had such a poor connection at key times Friday, helped hold a 1-0 lead in the fourth after the Rockies put a man on third with one out. Gonzalez came home with the throw on Troy Tulowitzki's grounder to shortstop and Castro applied the tag, then Castro threw to Gonzalez to retire Tulowitzki stealing. The Astros would tack on two more in the bottom and be on their way.

Tipping point: Lucas Harrell was phenomenal, giving up no runs and no walks in his ultra-efficient outing. Brandon Lyon's return to the big leagues after injury began the same way as Jamie Moyer's - with a home run to the first batter he faced.

On the mound: With the exception of Carlos Lee and Brian Bogusevic, both of whom homered in the opener, every Astro got a hit. Jordan Schafer's home run to lead off the game was a lined shot, while Martinez dropped his in the Crawford Boxes. Travis Buck had a pinch extra-base hit in both games.

At the plate: The difference in the defense was staggering. The Astros had four errors to none for the Rockies on Friday, and while the Astros were clean if not spectacular with the gloves on Saturday, the Rockies made three errors in one inning.

Zachary Levine

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Gonzalez's Day 2 more to his liking

Rookie Marwin Gonzalez made some amends Saturday for a shaky major league debut.

On top of making a couple of sparkling defensive plays, Gonzalez picked up his first major-league hit - a leadoff double in the fifth inning that led to the Astros' fourth run off veteran lefty Jamie Moyer

"Amazing," said Gonzalez, who after the game was still waiting to receive the souvenir ball at his locker.

Gonzalez went to the hole between short and third to nail the first batter of the game, Marco Scutaro With a runner on third and one out in the fourth and the Astros leading 1-0, Gonzalez was in the right place at the right time. Moving in to cut off a play at the plate, Gonzalez snagged a Troy Tulowitzki grounder and threw out Carlos Gonzalez trying to score.

On Friday, a missed tag by Marwin Gonzalez on an eighth-inning stolen base by Eric Young Jr. loomed large in a 5-3 defeat.

"I was excited to get my first hit," Gonzalez said. "But I always have to keep my defense, no matter what."

Errors confound manager Mills

Astros manager Brad Mills was scratching his head over the four errors that led to four unearned runs in the season opener.

"That's going to be one of our strengths, I think, is our defense," Mills said.

Mills brought the transgressors into his office on Saturday. He ran the plays in question on a television screen and talked to the players about what happened.

On the Wandy Rodriguez throwing error that led to three unearned runs in the third inning, second baseman Jose Altuve was late in getting to first base to cover on a bunt. One complication, Mills said, was that the lefthanded Rodriguez was throwing a changeup to switch-hitting Dexter Fowler Altuve shaded toward second base and couldn't get to first base in time to be there for Rodriguez's throw.

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